Lavender to sign books Thursday

By JANIE SLAVEN<br>Record Staff Writer

Sun, May 18 2008

— WHITLEY CITY — Last month McCreary native Will Lavender saw his first novel Obedience hit shelves to generally good reviews.
It would seem that readers are obeying the call to read this book. The latest New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction lists Lavender’s novel at #32.
“I’m just happy that people are interested in the book I created,” Lavender recently told The Record.
Obedience was published by Shaye Areheart Books — a subsidiary of Random House. In addition to his U.S. publication deal, foreign rights have since sold in the UK, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Russia, China, and Taiwan.
A 1995 graduate of McCreary Central High School, Lavender attended Cumberland and Centre colleges in Kentucky before receiving a master of fine arts degree from Bard College in upstate New York.
Upon graduation, Lavender did what most aspiring writers do to pay the bills: teach. For six years, Lavender taught writing at Jefferson Community College in Louisville after a brief stint in New Albany, IN. But grading other writers' papers put a damper on Lavender's own creative spark.
Just as Lavender was resigning himself to penning educational papers, inspiration struck with what would ultimately become Obedience. He wrote the book in about two months. It sold in February 2007.
“As soon as I sold the book, I quit teaching,” Lavender told The Record. “It wasn’t my calling. Though if you really want to teach, community college students are great. They want to learn, they want to be there, and they are always interesting.”
The last year has been quite a roller coaster ride for Lavender. In addition to promoting the book, he has spoken with movie producers including Jerry Bruckheimer and Brad Pitt about adapting Obedience to the silver screen (though the recent writers’ strike did halt negotiations). He is also hard at work on his next novel, another thriller.
“[Publishers] want you to be in the same genre; it gives you credibility with readers,” Lavender explained, adding he is more than willing to stick with suspense. “That’s what I want to write.”
On a personal note, he and wife Sharon welcomed daughter Jenna, now 10 months. Four-year-old Jonathan rounds out the family.
Lavender returns to McCreary County frequently to visit relatives. But this week he’s in town mixing business with pleasure.
The McCreary County Public Library is hosting a reception in the new author’s honor this Thursday, March 20. During the reception, Lavender will sign copies of the book. Also, copies of the book will be available for purchase.
The reception will begin at 5:00 p.m. and refreshments will be served.
For further information, contact or visit the McCreary County Public Library, 6 North Main Street, Whitley City, phone: 606-376-8738.

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